NYT:
“There will have to be a reassessment of the priorities and resources for Africom, given the responsibilities it has in one of the most volatile regions of the world,” said Jack Keane, the retired general who served as the Army vice chief of staff. “And certainly a quick response force, with air and ground capabilities, has to be an important part of those resources.”
Africom has no quick-reaction force?
Africom and Eurcom HQs are both located in Germany. Benghazi is closer to Germany than most of the places our military commonly hot-foots it to. Gibraltar in Spain is further than Benghazi. The in-theater QRF does not play by Union Rules: "Sorry, we're just the QRF for Eurcom. This crisis is in Africa. Find your own QRF."
This is utter nonsense, another deflection and smokescreen.
The best-trained and most capable group in the theater is designated the QRF. If the emergency was in Benghazi, that QRF would go. My best understanding at this time is that group was a USMC Force Recon company, and they were moved to Sigonella to be closer to Benghazi if a military rescue was ordered.
No military rescue was ordered. Obama did not have to "stand them down," all he had to do was passively NOT give cross-border authority.
Former SEAL: Obama Never Gave ‘Cross-Border Authority’ Orders (Breitbart link)
Free Republic thread link